Eight British tourists were yesterday resting in the Peruvian city of Cuzco after armed men beat their porters and stole their belongings as they camped on the world-famous Inca trail.

The bandits, dressed in dark clothing, beat the group's 26 porters and entered the tents where the Britons and five other travellers from India, South Africa and Canada were camping early on Tuesday while en route to the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu.

None of the tourists was harmed in the incident, a police spokesman said. The porters were treated for cuts and bruises.